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Shin copied Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Great Combo Technique and—having achieved his goal, prepared to leave Konoha.
“Eight-Tails, retreat.”
Shin’s voice echoed in the Eight-Tails’s mind.
The Tailed Beast, which had been preparing another, larger Tailed Beast Ball, immediately abandoned its attack. Its massive body turned and disappeared from the Konoha Shinobi’ sight in an instant.
“It left?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood frozen for a long moment before recovering.
He didn’t know why the Eight-Tails had suddenly left, but its departure was the best possible news for him.
Although he had managed to block the Tailed Beast Ball with his Five-element combination jutsu—he doubted he could withstand another two.
With the immense pressure of the Tailed Beast gone—the Konoha Shinobi breathed a collective sigh of relief, their gazes towards Hiruzen filled with even greater reverence.
Their Hokage had driven away a Tailed Beast!
Of course, the Konoha Shinobi didn’t know the Eight-Tails had retreated on Shin’s command. They assumed the Eight-Tails had fled in fear of the Third Hokage.
Some Shinobi already considered Hiruzen the Strongest Hokage in history, perhaps even the Strongest Shinobi in the world.
If Hashirama Senju knew that simply trading blows with the Eight-Tails could earn someone the title of “Strongest Hokage,” he might just cry.
——
Leaving the Konoha situation behind, Shin found the departed Hyūga clan, led by Hiashi.
Hiashi was currently tending to his injuries. Being controlled by Shin to unleash power beyond his body’s limits had left him significantly wounded.
“Hiashi, I brought your clansmen back.”
Shin released the Hyūga women, children, and elderly from the Kamui dimension, along with their supplies.
“Thank you, Shin Uzumaki,”
Hiashi formally thanked Shin.
“Thank me? I thought you’d hate me.”
If it weren’t for Shin, the Hyūga Clan would still be living peacefully in Konoha, not embarking on this path of exile.
“Nevertheless, thank you.”
“Alright, I accept your thanks. Stop thanking me. Honestly, I mostly did it for my own amusement.” Shin waved his hand dismissively.
Hizashi Hyūga, standing behind Hiashi, felt his face twitch. The Hyūga Clan’s defection was just—amusement to Shin?
He wasn’t wrong. Shin ‘had’ instigated the Hyūga’s defection primarily for his own entertainment.
“What are your plans now?” Shin asked Hiashi. Although he’d nudged them towards defection, he had no intention of finding them a new home.
“We plan to return to our Ancestral Lands first, then decide our next move.”
Hiashi had already considered this. After leaving Konoha, they would return to the Hyūga homeland from the Warring States period.
The land had been abandoned after they joined Konoha. Now, Hiashi planned to lead his clan back there and figure out how to deal with Konoha.
Becoming Missing-nin didn’t guarantee safety. Konoha could send pursuers at any time.
However, Hiashi wasn’t overly worried. He believed the Hyūga Clan could handle any pursuers Konoha might send.
As Hokage, Hiruzen wouldn’t likely come himself. The other Konoha clans probably wouldn’t get involved either; it was a thankless task, and the Hyūga had no major feuds with other clans besides the Uchiha.
As for civilian Shinobi, Hiashi wasn’t concerned. Like most members of prominent clans—he looked down on them.
Civilian Shinobi struggled to even learn powerful jutsu. Rising stars like Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato Namikaze were rare exceptions in any village.
And even they had relied on connections. Orochimaru and Jiraiya were Hiruzen’s students. Minato was Jiraiya’s student, Hiruzen’s Grand-student.
That was how Minato gained access to the Flying Thunder God Technique. Without such opportunities—even with immense talent—Minato might have peaked as an elite Jonin.
“Since you have a destination, I won’t concern myself further. I’m leaving.”
“Wait.”
Hiashi stopped Shin as he turned to leave.
“What else?” Shin turned back.
“It’s about Hinata. I hope you will take good care of her. Please.” Hiashi requested earnestly.
“Don’t worry about that. Hinata will be much better off with me than with you. If she misses you someday, I’ll bring her to visit.”
Hiashi didn’t argue.
In the current situation—Hinata was indeed safer with Shin Uzumaki. The Hyūga Clan faced constant danger; with Shin, at least her safety was assured.
“Take this. For Hinata’s sake, if you face a problem you can’t solve, you can call me once.”
Shin tossed a Flying Thunder God Kunai to Hiashi, who caught it.
“This is a Flying Thunder God Kunai. Channel chakra into it to trigger the formula, and I’ll sense it.”
“You know the Flying Thunder God Technique too?”
Hiashi held the kunai, astonishment plain on his usually stoic face.
He couldn’t help but be surprised. This was the signature jutsu of the Fourth Hokage, though developed by the Second. It was the technique that earned Minato the title “Yellow Flash.”
“I know many things. Is the Flying Thunder God Technique really that difficult?”
Hiashi was speechless.
‘Difficult? It’s nigh impossible!’ He couldn’t even get access to the technique, let alone learn it.
After giving Hiashi the kunai, Shin departed without further ceremony. Hiashi didn’t try to stop him this time.
“Let’s move. We’re too close to Konoha here; it’s not safe,” Hiashi addressed his clansmen. He then led them towards their ancestral homeland.
———
Shin returned to the Land of Whirlpools. Hinata immediately ran up to him, tightly gripping his hand.
She was scared here. Although she knew the women weren’t bad people, Hinata was naturally timid and shy around strangers.
Even the gentle Mikoto and Konan couldn’t put her completely at ease. Seeing Shin return—Hinata finally relaxed.
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